Lincoln v. Case
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
340 F.3d 283 (2003)
- Written by Salina Kennedy, JD
Facts
Walter Case (defendant), the owner of several rental properties, advertised an apartment for rent. When Don Weaver and Lisa Lincoln (plaintiffs), an interracial couple, expressed interest in renting the apartment, Case refused to rent to them, telling them that he had already rented the apartment to his daughter. Lincoln later contacted the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (the center), which sent two Black testers and two White testers to inquire about the apartment. Case told both White testers that the apartment was available but told both Black testers that it was unavailable. Lincoln and Weaver sued Case, alleging that he had violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA). A jury found that Case had maliciously discriminated against Lincoln and Weaver because Weaver was a Black man. The jury awarded no damages to Lincoln and awarded $500 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages to Weaver. Case moved, among other things, for a remittitur of the punitive damages award. The trial court denied Case’s motion, and he appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Stewart, J.)
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